Shakib Al Hasan, an all-rounder from Bangladesh, was included in the team for the forthcoming Test series against South Africa, but he may not be able to return home due to anti-Saddam demonstrations that broke out in his own country on Friday.

The all-rounder said that the series against South Africa would be his last one, should he be able to participate, and that he was retiring from Test match cricket. Otherwise, he didn’t play in whites until the second Test match between Bangladesh and India, which took place in Kanpur earlier this month.

The first Test match between South Africa and Bangladesh is slated to begin on October 21 at Mirpur, Dhaka.

An FIR for murder and arson has been filed against Shakib, an ex-lawmaker in the former administration that was overthrown by a revolution and a protest that finally resulted in the prime minister’s departure from the nation.

The top all-round player asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board for personal protection because he was afraid for his safety, but the board refused, stating that the government, not the cricket board, should be in charge of such matters.

The 37-year-old now resides permanently in the United States of America.

Selector Hannan Sarkar of the Bangladesh Cricket Board told the media on Wednesday that the all-rounder was chosen by the board for the Test matches against South Africa after receipt of the required clearances and the go-ahead from the board and government.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has also said unequivocally that they have not been given any explicit instructions about Shakib’s coming to join the squad from the US or about any security plans.

Students in Dhaka began protesting Shakib’s impending presence as early as Wednesday night after the squad’s announcement.